A Thursday tweet from @ColbertReport showed the dangers of taking satire out of context and having the Twitter feed for a television show not actually run by anyone associated with the show.
As a result, #CancelColbert ended up trending on Twitter.
Wednesday night, discussing Washington NFL team owner Dan Snyder's foundation to "help" Native Americans even as he refuses to change his team's offensive name, Colbert said:
Folks, this move by Dan Snyder inspires me, because my show has frequently come under attack for having a so-called offensive mascot. My beloved character Ching-Chong Ding-Dong…the point is, offensive or not — not — Ching-Chong is part of the unique heritage of the Colbert Nation that cannot change. But I’m willing to show the Asian community that I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitive to Orientals or Whatever.
Guess which part of that @ColbertReport tweeted out that angered Twitter users? That's right, out of context, "I am willing to show #Asian community I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever." (Hashtagging "Asian" was a great touch, don't you think? Just to prove that there was a real Social Media Professional at work on racially objectionable tweets.)
Twitter user and freelance writer Suey Park's response:
The Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals has decided to call for #CancelColbert. Trend it.
— @suey_park
In a bizarre confluence, Park's campaign was supported by Michelle Malkin and Twitchy even as Park was bombarded with the kind of racism you'd usually expect if the Twitchy folks had turned their wrath on you. Colbert, for his part, distanced himself from the tweet and the account that put it out:
#CancelColbert - I agree! Just saw @ColbertReport tweet. I share your rage.
Who is that, though? I'm @StephenAtHome
http://t.co/...
— @StephenAtHome
Park and many #CancelColbert tweeters argue that the line wasn't acceptable even in context, and the Colbert fans who are falling back on racism to defend it certainly aren't a convincing counter to that.